T cell, also called T lymphocyte, type of leukocyte (white blood cell) that is an essential part of the immune system.
Eight months ago, the new coronavirus was unknown. But to some of our immune cells, the virus was already something of a familiar foe.
A flurry of recent studies has revealed that a large proportion of the population — 20 to 50 percent of people in some places — might harbor immunity assassins called T cells that recognize the new coronavirus despite having never encountered it before.
Previous studies have shown that cross-reactive T cells may guard people against different strains of the flu virus, and perhaps confer a trace of immunity against dengue and Zika viruses, which share a family tree.
Researchers are eager to understand the history of these T cells because that might help reveal who is more likely to have them. A growing body of evidence, including data published this week in Science by Dr. Sette and his colleagues, points to common-cold coronaviruses as a potential source.
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